Archive for the 'California' Category

June 1, 2013 SAN DIEGO – Ocean, ocean, ocean, she chants softly with eyes closed and arms stretched in front of her like a conductor. She is resting her head back against the passenger’s seat. We’re racing west on the interstate to find a slow path on the beach. I’m anticipating salt air with my […]

March 31, 2012 SAN DIEGO, Calif. – We need to slow down. Every time we see a lighthouse in the distance, I’m on cruise control and my Best Friend/Navigator is checking maps and voice mail. By the time my brain alerts my foot on the accelerator, those beacons of history standing guard at the edge […]

March 2, 2012 SAN DIEGO – Each time I drive away from Cabrillo National Monument and its view overlooking San Diego, the thousands of white headstones in neat rows capture my attention. This time, for the first time, I pulled over and parked. This garden of stone on the Port Loma peninsula is the 77-acre […]

June 4, 2011 SANTA BARBARA, Calif. – I love walking or exercising at sunrise. It helps clear the adrenaline fumes or disappointments from the day before. Shadows form, then fade with the rising sun marking the start of a grand new day. No traffic threatening pedestrians, yet. The night’s silver moonlight segues into golden sunshine. Perfect for […]

April 3, 2011 CARLSBAD, Calif. – Beaches and trains are the sources of my favorite sounds. The sounds of waves, either lapping on the sand or crashing on rocks, and the horns or whistles of thundering trains represent adventure and independence. During a long weekend in Southern California, we recently found ourselves within a short […]

Jan. 6, 2011 SAN DIEGO, Calif. – Balboa Park, with its eucalyptus trees overlooking downtown San Diego, is a magical place near the heart of one of my favorite cities. The timeless architecture of the museums is as interesting as the history within their walls. This photo, taken during a recent visit, is of the […]

Nov. 23, 2010 Every day at sunset, a shy bird flies to our patio and rings our bronze bell. And two days ago, a nurse did a happy two-step to help celebrate my medical progress. These are two of life’s little joys that I probably would have overlooked in the past. But a recent medical […]

Oct. 27, 2010 A California wilderness that became an American icon through the black-and-white images of legendary photographer Ansel Adams could lose some of its sparkle for future generations, according to a sobering new report. Yosemite National Park is one of 10 national parks in California expected to undergo climate changes this century because of […]

April 28, 2010 SAN DIEGO, Calif. –The afternoon we arrived in San Diego, the brisk winds blew strong enough to straighten curly hair. Two days later, it was calm. The skies were clear. The coastal temperatures were in the 70s. We love this city. Especially its ocean breezes, Balboa Park, sunsets off Point Loma, and […]

March 4, 2010 SANTA CLARA, Calif. – Out of the corner of my eye, a furry urban beggar with a long tail distracts me. I was standing on the campus of Santa Clara University, admiring its chapel, the Mission Santa Clara de Asis. The Franciscan mission became the eighth of 21 founded in California in […]